Family and clan
Muuse Abokor (Musa Abokor, Habar Jeclo, Isaaq)
The Muuse Abokor (Musa Abokor) are a sub-clan of the Habar Jeclo, an Isaaq clan. Wikipedia calls them one of the largest Habar Jeclo divisions. They live in Togdheer, Sahil, Sanaag and Sool, and Wikipedia says they dominate Aynabo, Garadag and El Afweyn districts. Their main lines include Reer Yoonis, Biciide, Cali Barre, Bah Majeelo, Uduruxmiin and Idiris.
Name and family tree
The Muuse Abokor are a sub-clan of the Habar Jeclo, part of the Isaaq. They are a different group from the Abokor Muuse, who are Ciidagale.
| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Habr Habuusheed > (Habr) Tolja'elo > Muuse > Abokor (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009, p. 33) |
| ACLED 2025 | Isaaq > Habar Jeclo > Muse Abokor (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025) |
| Wikipedia (backup) | Muuse, son of Abokor, son of Jibriil, son of Abokor, son of Muuse, son of Sheikh Isaaq (Wikipedia, Musa Abokor, backup) |
| Somali Wikipedia (backup) | The largest Habar Jeclo group, "2/3" of it (Somali Wikipedia, Muuse Abokor, backup) |
Their sister groups are the Maxamed Abokor and Samane Abokor. The Cumar are their cousins through Jibriil (Wikipedia, Habr Je'lo, backup). See the Isaaq tree.
Main branches
Wikipedia gives this tree (Wikipedia, Musa Abokor, backup):
| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Uduruxmiin Muuse | none given |
| Idiris Muuse | none given |
| Cabdiraxmaan Muuse > Bah Majeelo | Cabdille, Cismaan and Isaaq Cabdiraxmaan |
| Cabdiraxmaan Muuse > Reer Yoonis | Maxamed Yoonis and Cismaan Yoonis |
| Cabdiraxmaan Muuse > Barre | Maxamed Barre, Cali Barre and Yoonis Barre |
| Yoonis Barre | Buraale Yoonis and Biciide Yoonis |
| Biciide | Bahsanbuur (Wadhowr and Samatar), Iidle and Faarax. Under Faarax: Axmed Faarax, Reer Iidle, Boho and Bah Farwiyo |
Somali Wikipedia says the Muuse Abokor have 23 ardaa (sections). They include Axmed Faarax Biciide, Reer Iidle, Baho, Looge Maxamed, Cali Maxamed and the Baale and Allamagan lines (Somali Wikipedia, backup). ACLED codes many of these, such as Reer Yoonis, Biciide, Ali Bare, Baho and Udur Ximin.
Where they live
No census counts Somalis by clan. ACCORD notes that Somalis often claim more members than their groups have, "in order to demonstrate strength" (ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11).
| Place | What the sources record |
|---|---|
| Sool, Sanaag and Togdheer | Wikipedia says they dominate Aynabo, Garadag and El Afweyn districts, and live in Ceerigaabo and Burco (Wikipedia, Musa Abokor, backup) |
| Sahil coast | Somali Wikipedia says they hold coast from Berbera to Xiis and Maydh (Somali Wikipedia, backup) |
| By section | It places the Maxamed Yoonis and Bah Majeelo in Sahil and Togdheer; Cismaan Yoonis, Cali Barre and Maxamed Barre in Saraar and Sool; and Uduruxmiin, Idiris, Bahsanbuur and Axmed Faarax in Sanaag and Sahil (same source) |
| Kenya | Wikipedia adds Isiolo (Wikipedia, Musa Abokor, backup) |
See Togdheer, Sanaag and Sool.
History on record
- 1800s. Wikipedia says the Muuse Abokor and Cumar drew wealth from frankincense groves in the hills behind the coast (Wikipedia, Musa Abokor, backup).
- Early to mid 1800s. It says they were part of a fighting group called Soocane. Its leader was the poet Kite Fiqi, of the Reer Yoonis (same source).
- 1900s to 1920. It says the British War Office recorded Muuse Abokor arms supplies to the Dervishes. It says a Dervish force under Ibrahim Boghol besieged Laasqoray (same source). See the Dervish movement.
- Later figures. Somali Wikipedia lists Haji Sudi and the politician Michael Mariano among Muuse Abokor people (Somali Wikipedia, backup).
Elders and customary law
Senior Somali clan leaders carry titles such as suldaan, ugaas or issim. Their role is "mainly judicial and representative" (UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014).
Somali Wikipedia names Suldaan Cali Muuse as the first Habar Jeclo sultan. It names Suldaan Cabdilaahi Suldaan Cali as general sultan of the Habar Jeclo. It also lists sultans of the Biciide and Bahsanbuur (Somali Wikipedia, backup). See xeer, Somali customary law.
In recent conflict records
The EUAA lists Habar Jeclo disputes active in April 2023 to March 2025. They include disputes with the Dhulbahante in Aynabo and Buuhoodle, and with the Habar Yoonis in El Afweyn (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1). Those districts are Muuse Abokor areas, but the EUAA does not name the sub-clan.
Earlier, the EASO recorded a clash near Berbera on 3 July 2020 between the Reer Yoonis and Axmed Faarax. Both are Habar Jeclo, and Wikipedia places both in the Muuse Abokor (EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021). See clan conflicts, district by district.
Where sources differ
- Size. Somali Wikipedia says the Muuse Abokor are two-thirds of the Habar Jeclo. No census confirms this.
- Sections. Wikipedia gives a tree of about 20 groups. Somali Wikipedia lists 23 sections, with some different names.
- Name. Muuse Abokor (Habar Jeclo) and Abokor Muuse (Ciidagale) are often confused. Somali Wikipedia flags its two pages for a merge.
Read more
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009, p. 33 · hdl.handle.net
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- Wikipedia, Musa Abokor, backup · en.wikipedia.org
- Somali Wikipedia, Muuse Abokor, backup · so.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, Habr Je'lo, backup · en.wikipedia.org
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11 · ecoi.net
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
- EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
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